Newcastle defender Massadio Haidara says he is prepared to meet Callum McManaman next week, despite admitting he feared the Wigan midfielder had ruined his life.

Haidara was carried off during Newcastle’s 2-1 defeat at the DW Stadium on Sunday after McManaman’s knee-high tackle.

And although scans have revealed only serious bruising to his left leg, the 20-year-old will be out for three weeks and hopes his adversary has learned his lesson.

Scroll down for Premier League highlights

Shocking: Callum McManaman's challenge on Massadio Haidara was high

Speaking to French newspaper Le Parisien, Haidara said: 'I was told he (McManaman) wanted to speak with
me. For the time being, we haven’t talked. There is a language barrier
but I think we will try to meet up next week with an interpreter.

'At the time, I was very angry. I
thought he’d ended my career. Now, I know I escaped a serious injury, I
have taken time to stand back from it and I am not angry.

'I simply hope
that it will serve as a lesson for him and the next time he will think
twice before making a tackle like that. I hope, when he watched it back,
he told himself that wasn’t who he really was.

Not a foul: Haidara left on a stretcher but referee Mark Halsey (second left) didn't even award a free kick

‘He could have ended my career and ruined my whole life and he will play again before me! Ridiculous! You must protect players. This type of tackle cannot be condoned in football. The authorities must take action.

'The ligaments in the knee are undamaged. It’s a massive relief. I was very worried when it happened. I thought he’d broken my leg or smashed up my knee. The pain was unbearable, I couldn’t bend my knee. It was really horrible. But, God was on my side...

'It was a tough time. Once I was in the
ambulance, I started to think of my family. I knew my brother was
watching the match live. Imagine what he must have felt seeing that
tackle.'

Aftermath: Haidara writhes on the ground as McManaman runs off after the ball

Amazingly, Haidara says he remembers
McManaman's tackle - adding that it was like nothing he had ever seen
before - and has even watched the challenge again on television.

'I
remember it all, I can still see it in my mind’s eye,' he said. 'The
ball came to me, I controlled it. I thought I had the time to run
around him but he came at me like a bullet. It all went so fast.

'I watched it that very evening.
Everyone told me it was a disgraceful tackle. I had never personally
seen such a tackle in football in my whole life and this was on me! It
sends shivers down my spine when I think of it.'

In trouble: Haidara lies on the floor after McManaman's challenge

And Haidara even astonishingly seems
to have some sympathy with the position of Wigan owner Dave Whelan, who
said McManaman's challenge was 'as clean as a whistle'.

Haidara
said: 'I understand he (Dave Whelan) wants to defend his own player but
I believe fairness and honesty must be respected. You simply need to
see the images and photos to understand.

'People
will have their own opinion, of course, and I don’t wish to cause a
controversy. I am simply relieved to have escaped the worst.'